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Culture

by Mike Masnick

Tue, May 31st 2011 3:57pm




Filed Under:
elway, john elway, music, names


John Elway No Fan Of Punk Band Elway; Asks It To Change Name

from the perhaps-annoying-ex-football-qb-is-a-better-name? dept

A few weeks ago we wrote about how actor Kevin Spacey had his lawyers get threatening over an album from the band Cassettes Won't Listen, because the album was called "Kevinspacey." To deal with this, the band changed the album name to Evinspacey. Now Capitalist Lion Tamer points us to a similar story, in which former Denver Bronco's star quarterback John Elway has had his lawyers send a letter to the punk band Elway, demanding that the band change its name (though, the band claims that it wasn't a "cease and desist" letter). The band, apparently, isn't giving in that easily:
Of course, any Coloradoan worth their salt might point out the absurdity of Mr. Elway's insistence on legally strongarming a virtually unknown punk band rather than focusing his attention on mending the badly broken Denver Broncos, but that's a whole different issue.

We have no intention of changing the name again. We love the name, regardless of what connotations are inferred by the listener. Surely, if the Dead Kennedys could become one of punk's most popular bands without incurring litigation, Elway can keep their moniker and continue making so-so music for our dozens of fans to enjoy
Your move, John.

Of course, this trend kind of makes you wonder if more and more bands are naming themselves or their albums after celebrities in an attempt to get a publicity boost from any potential legal shenanigans.

17 Comments | Leave a Comment

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  1.  
    icon
    Capitalist Lion Tamer (profile), May 31st, 2011 @ 4:17pm

    Of course, this trend kind of makes you wonder if more and more bands are naming themselves or their albums after celebrities in an attempt to get a publicity boost from any potential legal shenanigans.

    I'm forming a Krautrock-meets-shoegazer trio named The Ryan Giggs Experience featuring Ryan Giggs.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  
    identicon
    Scott Templeman, May 31st, 2011 @ 4:19pm

    These Chicks Don't Even Know the Name of My Band

    That's actually exactly why my hip hop group went with the name Streisand FX

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  
    identicon
    Scott Templeman, May 31st, 2011 @ 4:19pm

    These Chicks Don't Even Know the Name of My Band

    That's actually exactly why my hip hop group went with the name Streisand FX

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  
    identicon
    Pixelation, May 31st, 2011 @ 5:00pm

    I think they should change their name to "Elway Sucks".

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  5.  
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    ChurchHatesTucker (profile), May 31st, 2011 @ 5:41pm

    Re:

    Or just "Lway"

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  6.  
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    Kaden (profile), May 31st, 2011 @ 6:04pm

    El Way.

    Tap into the growing Latino demographic

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  7.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, May 31st, 2011 @ 6:04pm

    New Band

    TekDirt

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  8.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, May 31st, 2011 @ 6:44pm

    Actual artists-

    Urethra Franklin
    Judith Priest
    Bit Meddler
    Duran Duran Duran
    Nero's Day at Disneyland

    and of course Pan sonic which was originally Panasonic

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  9.  
    icon
    The Devil's Coachman (profile), May 31st, 2011 @ 6:46pm

    Re:

    You left out Elvis Hitler.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  10.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, May 31st, 2011 @ 7:34pm

    Re:

    I fucking lol'd

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  11.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, May 31st, 2011 @ 7:52pm

    F.U. Spacey would be a nice name for an album.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  12.  
    icon
    Capitalist Lion Tamer (profile), May 31st, 2011 @ 8:29pm

    Re:

    Kathleen Turner Overdrive, one of my all-time favorites.

    Related, but not quite: REO Speedealer.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  13.  
    identicon
    Anonymous Coward, May 31st, 2011 @ 9:40pm

    Give me a BREAK here..... this is getting ridiculous that he would even have the gall to ask this band to change their name.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  14.  
    identicon
    TooLazyToSign, Jun 1st, 2011 @ 7:41am

    In other news, a consortium representing various families of Coleoptera are suing The Beatles and Volkswagon for "causing irreconcilable confusion in the minds of scientists, birds, lizards and arachnids and profiting illegally from the long-term brand awareness and reputation of bugs"

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  15.  
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    N W Karels (profile), Jun 1st, 2011 @ 8:57am

    They're near DENVER, right? I suggest they change their name to "Righthaven", and get their gig reviewed in the Nightlife section of the Denver Post, after which, they should repost the thing on their band's website...

    Let the fun begin!

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  16.  
    identicon
    frank rael, Jun 1st, 2011 @ 2:53pm

    elway name

    thou shall not use the name of elway name in vain

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  17.  
    identicon
    frank rael, Jun 1st, 2011 @ 2:56pm

    elway name

    thou shall not use the name of elway name in vain

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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